HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REVIVE EFFORT AGAINST DRUGS, DRINKING

WEST WARWICK - The group of West Warwick High School students sat
around drinking, laughing and talking. The SADD truth is that they
were drinking Gatorade, eating cupcakes and enjoying one another's company.

The group of about 20 students is trying to get the word out that
drugs and alcohol aren't needed for teens to have a good time and
they said that is one of many reasons they revived the Students
Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization.

One of the founding members, junior Chelsea Carlson, said the
students wanted to revive the group because they needed to get the
message out there and they needed someone their fellow students could
relate to.

"Someone our age can go out there and send the message," she said.

Many of the members of the organization said they know people that
have used or do use drugs and alcohol.

Junior and founding member Jessica Laiter said she has had people in
her life that were involved with drugs.

She said by creating SADD it will help spread the word that drugs can
"destroy your life and those around you."

"There's been a lot of people that I have known that have done drugs
or made bad decisions," said high school junior Chelsea Legault. "The
consequences should be known. We want to motivate people in the right
direction."

Carlson said some students think members of SADD are trying to tell
them the only way is not to drink or do drugs.

"Obviously, we don't want them to do it," said Carlson. She said the
group members are not imposing their beliefs on others.

"We want to help them so they can have a life that doesn't end in a
bad situation," she said.

The group has a couple of different ideas to help get the message
across, members said. They are planning a "Day of the Dead." Members
from SADD will dress in black. They will not participate in class or
talk to anyone. At the beginning of class, the teacher will read the
student's obituary. The members said it will give their fellow
students an idea of what life would be like if they weren't here.

The group is also thinking about having a presentation for the high
school students that shows them the difficulty of overcoming drug
abuse, members said.

Jessica Field, a junior and founding member of SADD, said she was
raised not to drink alcohol or do drugs. She said she wants to
change other people's lives and lessen the number of deaths caused by
drugs and alcohol.

Sarah Senerchia and Toni Carreiro, both juniors and founding SADD
members, said they created the group to make a difference.

"No one listens to older people. We are the future. If we don't do
something, who will," said Senerchia.

"We want to help people in school," said Carreiro. She said being
with the members of SADD is comforting because she can be herself
because she is surrounded by people who have similar beliefs.

"This is what I have always believed in. Be your own person without
having to do what others do," said high school junior Jordan Soares.
She said, by being in SADD, she is with people who support her.

Sophomore James Ward said he was recruited to be a member of SADD.

"I didn't know about SADD and then I was kind of dragged in. I'm glad
I joined. I hope we will make a difference," said Ward. "I have never
seen the reason why people go with the flow and go out and get drunk.
They shouldn't have a reason to do that."

John Manna is the freshman in the group. He said he joined because he
went to one of the club's fundraisers and started to talk with the
members of the group.

"I talked to all cool people there," he said. "I'm totally for not
doing that stuff."

Carlson said she has seen friends that have made bad decisions
regarding drinking and drugs.

"I don't want anyone to go through what they went through and, if we
can prevent those things from happening, I think that would be a goal
to reach," she said.